Korean Ground Beef Bowl (Printer-Friendly)

Savory Korean-inspired beef bowl with gochujang, fresh vegetables, kimchi, and sesame seeds served over rice.

# What You Need:

→ For the Beef

01 - 1 pound lean ground beef
02 - 2 tablespoons gochujang
03 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
04 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
07 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
08 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ For the Bowl

09 - 4 cups cooked short-grain rice
10 - 1 cup shelled edamame, cooked
11 - 1 cup cucumber, thinly sliced
12 - 1 cup carrot, julienned
13 - 1 cup kimchi, chopped
14 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté minced garlic and ginger for 1 minute until fragrant.
02 - Add ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking up the meat with a spatula, until browned and cooked through, approximately 5 to 6 minutes.
03 - Stir in gochujang, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Continue cooking for 2 to 3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and coat the beef evenly.
04 - Remove from heat and stir in half of the sliced green onions.
05 - Distribute cooked rice evenly among 4 serving bowls. Top each bowl with seasoned ground beef, edamame, cucumber, carrot, and kimchi.
06 - Sprinkle remaining green onions and toasted sesame seeds over each bowl. Serve immediately.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • The whole thing comes together in 30 minutes, which means you can have dinner on the table faster than most takeout places can deliver.
  • Gochujang gives you that umami punch without needing a dozen ingredients or complicated techniques.
  • It's naturally dairy-free and endlessly customizable, so dietary restrictions never feel like you're eating something boring.
02 -
  • Don't let your gochujang paste sit at the bottom of the pan unwilted; stir it in with the other liquids so it dissolves evenly and doesn't create spicy pockets.
  • Prep all your vegetables before you start cooking the beef because once the meat hits the skillet, you're committed to moving quickly.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for 2 to 3 minutes before sprinkling them on top so they taste more alive and nutty rather than just seeds.
  • If your gochujang is especially spicy or your household doesn't like heat, mix it with a touch of honey or agave to round out the rough edges without diluting the flavor.
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